Suspects jailed for earlier robbery

File image - Four people including the shooter were killed and three Pennsylvania state troopers were wounded during a shooting in Frankstown Township, Pennsylvania.

Durban - The men who allegedly robbed the Sunningdale Spar last month have been arrested and imprisoned for another crime, Nico Potgieter, head of Enforce Investigations, has told The Mercury.

Zwelibanzi Cele, John Mthonsi, Mandlenkosi Ndlovu and Mduduzi Zwane appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court two weeks ago and were each given a 10-year sentence for their involvement in another armed robbery.

They were not formally charged for the Sunningdale Spar robbery as these investigations were continuing.

“The main thing is they are off the streets,” said Potgieter.

The men were thought to be part of a 12-strong syndicate responsible for the early morning raid on the supermarket.

Armed with pistols and AK47s, robbers emptied the tills and demanded customers and staff hand over their wallets and cellphones.

They also fired shots at a Blue Security guard who narrowly escaped unharmed.

Potgieter said that while looking at CCTV footage from the Sunningdale Spar incident, his staff recognised three of the suspects who had been arrested for a 2007 armed robbery.

“To our knowledge they were serving 10-year sentences in Westville Prison,” said Potgieter. On investigation it emerged five of the suspected syndicate members had been released on parole in June.

Potgieter said the men had been arrested again in a joint investigation by police, the Hawks and Enforce Investigations. They were taken into custody at various locations throughout the province including Zululand, central Durban, Umlazi and Ixopo.

Potgieter said there were still several cases pending and further arrests were imminent. - The Mercury